Curtain structure



March 13, 1934. R D, BARKER 1,950,648

CURTA I N S TRUC TURE Filed Oct. 6, 1933 jyz.

INVEN TOR,

B47167; W/TMESS; B I Y (j j Z 1 7' y; W

A ORNEY Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFcE ApplicationOctober 6,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to curtain structure and more especially to thatclass of curtain structures commonly known as roller shades.

The word curtain where used hereinafter is intended to mean curtains andshades attached to a lifting roller on which the curtain sheet will becoiled during the shade lifting action.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedventilating curtain shade and more especially to provide improveddetails of construction of the sheet and its roller whereby to preventfluttering and undue wear of the top edge of the shade sheet, andfurther to provide for the smooth coiling of the shade sheet upon theroller.

The invention consists in certain advancements in this art as set forthin the ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additional objectsand advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose construction,combination and details of means, and the manner of operation will bemade manifest in the description of the herewith illustrativeembodiment; it being understood that modifications, variations andadaptations may be resorted to within the scope, principle and spirit ofthe invention as it is more directly claimed hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved shade.

Figure 2 is a cross section of shade roller on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation and partial section of a fragment of anupper portion of the suspended shade.

Figure 4 is a perspective showing an applied marginal reinforcement onthe top margin of the curtain sheet.

Figure 5 is a perspective of the top edge backbone stifiening strip.

In its illustrated embodiment the curtain consists of a shade sheet 10of any desired material and particularly of such a material as willsmoothly coil upon a roller 11 of any conventional spring roller type ofoperation.

The shade 10 is shown as being connected by flexible strap suspenders 12to the end portions of the roller 11; the flexible strap 12 beingdisposed beyond a longitudinal groove or channel 13 suitably formed andin the present case shown as produced between longitudinal edges 14 of asegmental layer 15 applied to the roller core 11; this being aneconomical mode of providing the channel or groove 13 along the body ofthe roller 11.

1933. Serial No. 692,398

The straps 12 are of thin durable material such as linen tape.

A further feature of the present shade resides in a stifieningconstruction along its top edge and to which the suspenders 12 areattached in spaced relation rather near the end corners of the shadesheet so as to provide a substantially unobstructed draft opening belowthe roller and above the top of the pulled-down curtain. To secure thedesired strength and stiffness along the top of the shade and to preventits fluttering and undue weaving under draft pressure a layer of fabricmaterial 16 of any suitable kind is suitably aiiixed to the uppertransverse marginal portion of the sheet 10 and this is adapted to befolded on the line a-b so as to provide a folded top margin of desireddepth along the shade. While this two-ply fold forms four layers ofmaterial and gives ample tensional strength, it is desirable to furtherincrease the transverse stiffness of the top of the shade and this isaccomplished by applying over the folded top a metallic inverted channelstrip 17 which will constitute a substantial backbone further increasingthe top marginal strength and amply stiffening the top of the curtain topreclude fluttering and distortional weaving.

An additional feature resides in the provision of a longitudinal bar 18laid within the fold of the reinforcing material 16 and about which thelower ends of the strap suspenders 12 are securely attached by means ofa strap bight 12 Fig. 3. To permit the ready attachment of the straps,the several layers of the sheet 10 and the strip 16 are perforated as bylongitudinal apertures 19 of a width suificient to receive the straps 12and likewise the backbone 17 is provided with strip openings 20.

It will therefore be seen that the backbone 17 and the strap bar 18cooperate to stiffen the top edge of the shade sheet and provide forsubstantial attachment of the straps 12.

In operation of the device, when the curtain is to be rolled, the firstaction is the coiling of the straps 12 on themselves for a few turnsabout the ends of the roller 11 and then the backbone 17 along the topof the shade registers with the channel or groove 13 and restssubstantially flush therein so that as the curtain sheet coils upon thewinding roller the sheet will roll up in a smooth manner.

What is claimed is:

1. A ventilating shade curtain structure including a curtain sheethaving a stiffened top edge, and a roller provided with a longitudinal Vwhereby the curtain is positioned below the roller when unrolledtherefrom.

3. A shade curtain roller having a longitudinal groove, Suspender strapsattached to the roller, beyond the groove ends, to coil thereon, and acurtain sheet to the top of which the straps are attached; the top ofthe sheet having a stifiening means received in said groove.

RALPH D. BARKER.

